Chapter 8 — COMPLIANCE FORMS, WORKSHEETS AND REFERENCE MATERIAL
Section A5.405 — MATERIAL SOURCES
2025 California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 11) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · California
A5.405.1 Regional materials. Compared to other products in a given product category, select building materials or products for permanent installation on the project that have been harvested or manufactured in California or within 500 miles of the project site.
- For those materials locally manufactured, select materials manufactured using low embodied energy or those that will result in net energy savings over their useful life.
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
APPENDIX A5 — NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES
- Regional materials shall make up at least 10 percent, based on cost, of total materials value.
- If regional materials make up only part of a product, their values are calculated as percentages based on weight.
- Provide documentation of the origin, net projected energy savings and value of regional materials.
A5.405.2 Bio-based materials. Select bio-based building materials and products made from solid wood, engineered wood, bamboo, wool, cotton, cork, straw, natural fibers, products made from crops (soy-based, corn-based) and other bio-based materials with at least 50-percent bio-based content.
A5.405.2.1 Certified wood components—sustainability standards. Provide wood products, for at least 50 percent of the project’s permanently installed products, that have been certified by independent third parties and labeled as having been produced in compliance with the accepted principles of sustainable forest management. The use of recycled and/or recovered wood products does not need to be certified. Comply with one or more of the following certifications of wood sustainability:
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
- Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).
- American Forest Foundation’s American Tree Farm System [®] (ATFS).
- Canadian Standards Association’s Sustainable Forest Management System Standards (CSA Z809).
- Manufacturer’s fiber procurement system that has been audited by an approved agency as compliant with the provisions of ASTM D7612 as a responsible or certified source.
A5.405.2.2 Rapidly renewable materials. Use materials made from plants harvested within a ten-year cycle for at least 2.5 percent of total materials value, based on estimated cost.
A5.405.3 Reused materials. Use salvaged, refurbished, refinished or reused materials for a minimum of 5 percent of the total value, based on estimated cost of materials on the project. Provide documentation as to the respective values.
Note: Sources of some reused materials can be found at CalRecycle’s https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/. See also Appendix A5, Divi- sion A5.1, Section A5.105.1 for on-site materials reuse.
A5.405.4 Recycled content. Use materials, equivalent in performance to virgin materials with a total (combined) recycled content value (RCV) of:
Tier 1. The RCV shall not be less than 10 percent of the total material cost of the project, or use two products which meet the minimum recycled content levels in Table A5.405.4 for at least 75%, by cost, of all products in that category in the project.
(Equation A5. 4-1) Required Total RCV (dollars) = Total Material Cost (dollars) × 10 percent
Tier 2. The RCV shall not be less than 15 percent of the total material cost of the project, or use three products which meet the minimum recycled content levels in Table A5.405.4 for at least 75%, by cost, of all products in that category in the project.
(Equation A5. 4-2) Required Total RCV (dollars) = Total Material Cost (dollars) × 15 percent
For the purposes of this section, materials used as components of the structural frame shall not be used to calculate recycled content. The structural frame includes the load bearing structural elements such as wall studs, plates, sills, columns, beams, girders, joists, rafters and trusses.
Notes:
- Sample forms which allow user input and automatic calculation are located at www.hcd.ca.gov/ CALGreen.html and may be used to simplify documenting compliance with this section and for calculating recycled content value of materials or assembly products.
- Sources and recycled content of some recycled materials can be obtained from CalRecycle if not provided by the manufacturer.
TABLE A5.405.4—MINIMUM RECYCLED CONTENT LEVELS
| MATERIAL/PRODUCT TYPE | MINIMUM TOTAL RECYCLED CONTENT | MINIMUM POST-CONSUMER RECYCLED CONTENT |
|---|---|---|
| Insulation, fiberglass | 30% | 30% |
| Insulation, cellulose | 75% | 75% |
| Exterior Paint, latex | 50% | 50% |
| Carpet, nylon | 10% | 10% |
| Compost | 80% | 80% |
| Mulch | 80% | 80% |
| Acoustical ceiling panels | 60% | — |
| Drywall, gypsum | 4% | 4% |
| Aggregate base | 80% | 80% |
APPENDIX A5-26 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
APPENDIX A5 — NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES
A5.405.4.1 Total material cost. Total material cost is the total estimated or actual cost of materials and assembly products used in the project. The required total recycled content value for the project (in dollars) shall be determined by Equation A5.4-1 or A5.4-2.
Total material cost shall be calculated by using one of the methods specified below:
- Simplified method. To obtain the total cost of the project multiply the square footage of the structure by the square foot valuation established by the enforcing agency. The total material cost is 45 percent of the total cost of the project. Use Equations A5.4-3A or A5.4-3B to determine total material costs using the simplified method.
(Equation A5.4-3A) Total material costs = Project square footage × square foot valuation × 45 percent
(Equation A5.4-3B) Total estimated or actual cost of project × 45 percent 2. Detailed method. To obtain the total cost of the project, add the estimated and/or actual costs of materials used for the project including the structure (steel, concrete, wood or masonry); the enclosure (roof, windows, doors and exterior walls); the interior walls, ceilings and finishes (gypsum board, ceiling tiles, etc.). The total estimated and/or actual costs shall not include fees, labor and installation costs, overhead, appliances, equipment, furniture or furnishings.
A5.405.4.2 Determination of total recycled content value (RCV). Total RCV may be determined either by dollars or percentage as noted below.
- Total recycled content value for the project (in dollars). This is the sum of the recycled content value of the materials and/or assemblies considered and shall be determined by Equation A5.4-4. The result of this calculation may be directly compared to Equations A5.4-1 and A5.4-2 to determine compliance with Tier 1 or Tier 2 prerequisites.
(Equation A5.4-4) Total Recycled Content Value (dollars) = (RCV M + RCV A ) 2. Total recycled content value for the project (by percentage). This is expressed as a percentage of the total material cost and shall be determined by Equations A5.4-4 and A5.4-5. The result of this calculation may be directly compared for compliance with Tier 1 (10 percent) or Tier 2 (15 percent) prerequisites.
(Equation A5.4-5) Total Recycled Content Value (percent) = [Total Recycled Content Value (dollars) ÷ Total Material Cost (dollars)] × 100
A5.405.4.3 Determination of recycled content value of materials (RCV M ). The recycled content value of each material (RCV M ) is calculated by multiplying the cost of material, as defined by the recycled content. See Equations A5.4-6 and A5.4-7.
(Equation A5.4-6) RCV M (dollars) = Material cost (dollars) × RC M (percent) (Equation A5.4-7) RC M (percent) = Postconsumer content percentage + ( [1] / 2 ) Preconsumer content percentage
Notes:
- If the postconsumer and preconsumer recycled content is provided in pounds, Equation A5.4-7 may be used, but the final result (in pounds) must be multiplied by 100 to show RC M as a percentage.
- If the manufacturer does not separately identify the preconsumer and postconsumer recycled content of a material but reports it as a total single percentage, the total amount shall be considered preconsumer recycled material.
A5.405.4.4 Determination of recycled content value of assemblies – (RCV A ). Recycled content value of assemblies is calculated by multiplying the total cost of assembly by the total recycled content of the assembly (RC A ), and shall be determined by Equation A5.4-8. (Equation A5.4-8) RCV A (dollars) = Assembly cost (dollars) × Total RC A (percent) If not provided by the manufacturer, Total RC A (percent) is the sum (Σ) of the Proportional Recycled Content (PRC M ) of each material in the assembly. RC A shall be determined by Equation A4.4-9. (Equation A5.4-9) RC A = Σ PRC M
PRC M of each material may be calculated by one of two methods using the following formulas:
Method 1: Recycled content (Postconsumer and Preconsumer) of each material provided in percentages
(Equation A5.4-10) PRC M (percent) = Weight of material (percent) × RC M (percent)
(Equation A5.4-11) Weight of material (percent) = [Weight of material (lbs) ÷ Weight of assembly (lbs)] × 100 (See Equation A5.4-7) RC M (percent) = Postconsumer content percentage + ( [1] / 2 ) Preconsumer content percentage
Method 2: Recycled content (Postconsumer and Preconsumer) provided in pounds
(Equation A5.4-12) PRC M (percent) = [RC M (lbs) Weight of material (lbs)] × 100 (Equation A5.4-13) RC M (lbs) = Postconsumer content (lbs) + ( [1] / 2 ) Preconsumer content (lbs)
Note: If the manufacturer does not separately identify the preconsumer and postconsumer recycled content of a material but reports it as a total single percentage, the total amount shall be considered preconsumer recycled material.
A5.405.4.5 Alternate method for concrete. When Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs), such as fly ash or ground blast furnace slag cement, are used in concrete, an alternate method of calculating and reporting recycled content in concrete products shall be permitted. When determining the recycled content value, the percent recycled content shall be multiplied by the cost of the cementitious materials only, not the total cost of the concrete.
A5.405.5 Cement and concrete. Cement and concrete made with recycled products shall comply with Section A5.405.
A5.405.5.1 Cement. Cement shall comply with one of the following standards:
- Portland cement shall meet ASTM C150, Standard Specification for Portland Cement.
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
APPENDIX A5 — NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES
- Blended cement shall meet ASTM C595, Standard Specification for Blended Hydraulic Cement or ASTM C1157, Standard Performance Specification for Hydraulic Cement.
- Other Hydraulic Cements shall meet ASTM C1157, Standard Performance Specification for Hydraulic Cement.
A5.405.5.2 Concrete. Use concrete manufactured with cementitious materials in accordance with Section A5.405.2, as approved by the Engineer of Record.
A5.405.5.2.1 Supplementary cementitious materials (SCM). Use concrete made with one or more supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) conforming to the following standards:
- Fly ash conforming to ASTM C618, Specification for Coal Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined Natural Pozzolan for Use in Concrete.
- Slag cement (GGBFS) conforming to ASTM C989, Specification for Use in Concrete and Mortars.
- Silica fume conforming to ASTM C1240, Specification for Silica Fume Used in Cementitious Mixtures.
- Natural pozzolan conforming to ASTM C618, Specification for Coal Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined Natural Pozzolan for Use in Concrete.
sh and Raw or Calcined Natural Pozzolan for Use in Concrete._ 2. Slag cement (GGBFS) conforming to ASTM C989, Specification for Use in Concrete and Mortars. 3. Silica fume conforming to ASTM C1240, Specification for Silica Fume Used in Cementitious Mixtures. 4. Natural pozzolan conforming to ASTM C618, Specification for Coal Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined Natural Pozzolan for Use in Concrete.
- Blended supplementary cementitious materials conforming to ASTM C1697, Standard Specification for Blended Supplementary Cementitious Materials. The amount of each SCM in the blend will be used separately in calculating Equation A5.4-1. Class C fly ash, if used in the blend, will be considered SL for the purpose of satisfying the equation.
- Ultra-fine fly ash (UFFA) conforming to ASTM C618, Specification for Coal Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined Natural Pozzolan for Use in Concrete, and the following chemical and physical requirements:
| Chemical Requirements | Percent |
|---|---|
| Sulfur Trioxide (SO3) | 1.5 max. |
| Loss on ignition | 1.2 max. |
| Available Alkalines (as Na2O) equivalent | 1.5 max. |
| Physical Requirements | Percent |
| Particle size distribution Less than 3.5 microns Less than 9.0 microns |
50 90 |
| Strength Activity Index with portland cement 7 days 28 days |
95 (minimum % of control) 110 (minimum % of control) |
| Expansion at 16 days when testing job materials in conformance with ASTM C1567* | 0.10 max. |
| * In the test mix, cement shall be replaced with at least 12% UFFA by weight. |
- Metakaolin conforming to ASTM C618, Specification for Coal Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined Natural Pozzolan for Use in Concrete, and the following chemical and physical requirements:
| Chemical Requirements | Percent |
|---|---|
| Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) + Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) | 92.0 min. |
| Calcium Oxide (CaO) | 1.0 max. |
| Sulfur Trioxide (SO3) | 1.0 max. |
| Loss on ignition | 1.2 max. |
| Available Alkalines (as Na2O) equivalent | 1.0 max. |
| Physical Requirements | Percent |
| Particle size distribution Less than 45 microns |
95 |
| Strength Activity Index with portland cement 7 days 28 days |
100 (minimum % of control) 100 (minimum % of control) |
- Ground-glass pozzolan per ASTM C1866/C1866M.
- Other materials with comparable or superior environmental benefits, as approved by the Engineer of Record.
A5.405.5.2.1.1 Mix design equation. Use any combination of one or more SCM, satisfying Equation A5.4-14. When ASTM C595 or ASTM C1157 cement is used, the amount of SCM in these cements shall be used in calculating Equation A5.4-14.
Exception: Minimums in mix designs approved by the Engineer of Record may be lower where high early strength is needed for concrete products or to meet an accelerated project schedule. High early strength shall be defined as outlined in ACI CT.
(Equation A5.4-14) F/ 25 + SL/ 50 + UF /12 ≥ 1
where:
F = Fly ash, natural pozzolan or other approved SCM, or blended SCM, as a percent of total cementitious material for concrete on the project.
APPENDIX A5-28 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
APPENDIX A5 — NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES
SL = GGBFS, as a percent of total cementitious material for concrete on the project.
UF = Silica fume, metakaolin or UFFA, as a percent of total cementitious material for concrete on the project.
A5.405.5.3 Concrete manufacture. The following measures shall be permitted in the manufacture of concrete, as approved by the Engineer of Record.
A5.405.5.3.1 Recycled aggregates. Concrete made with one or more of the following materials:
- Blast furnace slag as a lightweight aggregate in unreinforced concrete.
- Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) or crushed concrete aggregate (CCA) that meets grading requirements of ASTM C33, Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates. a. Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) is created from existing concrete structures, including building foundations, parking areas, and sidewalks. It has been processed to create a recycled concrete aggregate usable in many applications. b. Crushed concrete aggregate (CCA) is created by taking concrete that was batched but not used in initial construction and is returned in the mixer truck to the concrete batch plant. As a recent mix and unplaced, it is a clean product with known properties.
- Other materials with comparable or superior environmental benefits.
A5.405.5.3.2 Mixing water. Water recycled by the local water purveyor or water reclaimed from manufacturing processes and conforming to ASTM C1602, Standard Specification for Mixing Water Used in the Production of Hydraulic Cement Concrete.
A5.405.5.3.3 High strength concrete. Concrete elements designed to reduce their total size compared to standard 3,000 psi concrete, thereby reducing the total volume of cement, aggregate and water used on the project.
A5.405.5.3.4 Later ages of maturity. An increase in the age of maturity of testing for determining compressive strength for acceptance of concrete from the current 28 days to 42 or 56 days, in compliance with ASTM C31/C31M.
A5.405.5.3.5 Returned fresh concrete. The use of returned fresh concrete in compliance with ASTM C1798/C1798M or Caltrans Section 90-9.
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Ask AI about this code▸ Contents — 2025 California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 11)
- Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
- Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
- Chapter 3 — GREEN BUILDING
- Chapter 4 — RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
- Chapter 4 — RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
- Chapter 4 — RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
- Chapter 4 — RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
- Chapter 4 — RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
- Chapter 5 — NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
- Chapter 5 — NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
- Chapter 5 — NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
- Chapter 5 — NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
- Chapter 5 — NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
- Chapter 6 — REFERENCED ORGANIZATIONS AND STANDARDS
- Chapter 7 — INSTALLER AND SPECIAL INSPECTOR QUALIFICATIONS
-
▸ Chapter 8 — COMPLIANCE FORMS, WORKSHEETS AND REFERENCE MATERIAL
Overview- Section A4.101 — GENERAL
- Section A4.102 — DEFINITIONS
- Section A4.103 — SITE SELECTION
- Section A4.104 — SITE PRESERVATION
- Section A4.105 — DECONSTRUCTION AND REUSE OF EXISTING MATERIALS
- Section A4.106 — SITE DEVELOPMENT
- Section A4.107
- Section A4.108 — INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL C…
- Section A4.201 — GENERAL
- Section A4.202 — DEFINITIONS
- Section A4.203 — PERFORMANCE APPROACH FOR NEWLY CONSTRUCTED BU…
- Section A4.204 — REQUIREMENTS FOR ALTERATIONS TO EXISTING BUIL…
- Section A4.301 — GENERAL
- Section A4.302 — DEFINITIONS
- Section A4.303 — INDOOR WATER USE
- Section A4.304 — OUTDOOR WATER USE
- Section A4.305 — WATER REUSE SYSTEMS
- Section A4.306 — INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL C…
- Section A4.401 — GENERAL
- Section A4.402 — DEFINITIONS
- Section A4.403 — FOUNDATION SYSTEMS
- Section A4.404 — EFFICIENT FRAMING TECHNIQUES
- Section A4.405 — MATERIAL SOURCES
- Section A4.406 — ENHANCED DURABILITY AND REDUCED MAINTENANCE
- Section A4.407 — WATER RESISTANCE AND MOISTURE MANAGEMENT
- Section A4.408 — CONSTRUCTION WASTE REDUCTION, DISPOSAL AND RE…
- Section A4.409 — LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
- Section A4.410 — BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION
- Section A4.411 — INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL C…
- Section A4.501 — GENERAL
- Section A4.502 — DEFINITIONS
- Section A4.503 — FIREPLACES
- Section A4.504 — POLLUTANT CONTROL
- Section A4.505 — INTERIOR MOISTURE CONTROL
- Section A4.506 — INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND EXHAUST
- Section A4.507 — ENVIRONMENTAL COMFORT
- Section A4.508 — OUTDOOR AIR QUALITY
- Section A4.509 — INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL C…
- Section A4.601 — GENERAL
- Section A4.602 — RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES APPLICATION CHECKLIST
- Section A4.602 — RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES APPLICATION CHECKLIST…
- Section A4.602 — RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES APPLICATION CHECKLIST…
- Section A4.602 — RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES APPLICATION CHECKLIST…
- Section A4.602 — RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES APPLICATION CHECKLIST…
- Section A4.602 — RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES APPLICATION CHECKLIST…
- Section A4.602 — RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES APPLICATION CHECKLIST…
- Section A5.101 — GENERAL
- Section A5.102 — DEFINITIONS
- Section A5.103 — SITE SELECTION
- Section A5.104 — SITE PRESERVATION
- Section A5.105 — DECONSTRUCTION AND REUSE OF EXISTING STRUCTURES
- Section A5.106 — SITE DEVELOPMENT
- Section A5.107 — BIRD-FRIENDLY BUILDING DESIGN
- Section A5.201 — GENERAL
- Section A5.202 — DEFINITIONS
- Section A5.203 — PERFORMANCE APPROACH
- Section A5.204 — MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR ALTERATIONS TO EXI…
- Section A5.211 — RESERVED
- Section A5.212 — ELEVATORS, ESCALATORS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT
- Section A5.213 — ENERGY EFFICIENT FRAMING
- Section A5.301 — GENERAL
- Section A5.302 — DEFINITIONS
- Section A5.303 — INDOOR WATER USE
- Section A5.304 — OUTDOOR WATER USE
- Section A5.305 — WATER REUSE
- Section A5.401 — GENERAL
- Section A5.402 — DEFINITIONS
- Section A5.403 — FOUNDATION SYSTEMS
- Section A5.404 — EFFICIENT FRAMING TECHNIQUES
- Section A5.405 — MATERIAL SOURCES
- Section A5.406 — ENHANCED DURABILITY AND REDUCED MAINTENANCE
- Section A5.408 — CONSTRUCTION WASTE REDUCTION, DISPOSAL AND RE…
- Section A5.409 — LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
- Section A5.501 — GENERAL
- Section A5.502 — DEFINITIONS
- Section A5.504 — POLLUTANT CONTROL
- Section A5.507 — ENVIRONMENTAL COMFORT
- Section A5.508 — OUTDOOR AIR QUALITY
- Section A6.106 — SITE DEVELOPMENT
- Section A6.202 — DEFINITIONS
- Section A6.203 — PERFORMANCE APPROACH
- Section A6.204 — PRESCRIPTIVE APPROACH
- Section A6.205 — [OSHPD 1 & 4]—BUILDING ENVELOPE
- Section A6.207 — [OSHPD 1, 2 & 4]—HVAC DESIGN, EQUIPMENT AND I…
- Section A6.210 — [OSHPD 1, 2 & 4]—APPLIANCES
- Section A6.401 — GENERAL
- Section A6.407 — [OSHPD 1, 2 & 4]—WATER RESISTANCE AND MOISTUR…
- Section A6.408 — CONSTRUCTION WASTE REDUCTION, DISPOSAL AND RE…
- Section A6.410 — BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION
- Section A6.504 — POLLUTANT CONTROL
- Section A6.505 — [OSHPD 1, 2 & 4]—INDOOR MOISTURE CONTROL